King County Search Dogs

December 2003

December 2, 2003
03-3035
Covington
2215 callout for a missing 16 yo handicapped male in Covington. We responded with 8 personnel, both airscent and trailing teams. Subject had not returned from school, although it was suspected he had been dropped off at his residence around 1430 hours. Subject had been seen approx 1 mile away at a shopping center around 1430 hours. Subject was mentally and physically handicapped with mentation at the 7 yo level. The physical handicaps were 42" tall, 70lbs, 40 percent use of left arm, no effective use of right arm or both legs. He was confined to a wheelchair, except when he got off and rolled around. Due to the urban search setting and the unlikelihood that he would be far from a paved surface, we initially deployed three teams of two in cars. The goal was to search the paved areas at shopping areas and the neighborhood. In the next rotation, we deployed airscent teams into greenbelts and parks. We also obtained a scent article and started working from the PLS. The trailing teams were unable to establish a trail leaving from the general area of the PLS. The airscent teams also had negative results. The subject was located by METRO police in downtown Seattle at 0900 hours later that morning. The subject had indeed caught a bus. (55 hrs)

December 13-14, 2003
03-3123
Alpental
1215 callout for missing female avalanche victim 1/2 mile uptrail from Alpental. Subject had been snowshoeing with companion when a small avalanche broke loose and buried her. We responded with 3 avalanche dogs, 8 personnel total. We deployed dogs the first day with some interest by Boston and Sage near the PLS. On the second day, Sage again had interest in the general area as Alpental Avi dogs had. When we left, the ground teams were going to start fine probe lines. The subject was located, the following weekend, downslope about 25 yards from the areas of interest, under a boulder. The find was by a team that dug a trench and were probing the sides of the trench. (72 hrs)

December 14, 2003
03-3130
Palmer
1130 callout for missing male at Palmer-Kanasket State Park: We responded with two trailing and three airscent teams, 12 personnel total. The subject had been kicked out of the park a week before and had not been seen for two days. The trailing teams followed a trail from the subject's vehicle to a pile of clothing and personal effects that were identified as the subjects. The airscent teams worked throughout the park. The subject was not located and the search was suspended at dark. It was suspected that the subject was despondent. (74 hrs)

December 21, 2003
03-xxxxx
Arlington, Sno Cty
1545 callout for missing 4 yo in Arlington. We responded with 5 personnel and were turned around enroute. (3 hrs)

December 22, 2003
03-2820
Lake Champlain, Sno Cty
0800 callout for planned water search at Lake Chaplain, Sno Cty: We responded with three water teams, five personnel total. Water search for missing person. No interest. (47.5 hrs)

December 29, 2003
03-ES065
Burien
1300 start for planned evidence search for KCSO. We responded with two cadaver teams, three personnel total. We were called to assist with locating where a body was stored prior to it being moved in a house. The overwhelming decomposition odor in the house made it difficult to pin point a location, although an area of interest was identified. (10 hrs)

December 29, 2003
03-3233
Arlington
1030 callout for missing male alzheimer's. We responded with two trailing and five airscent teams, 9 personnel total. Subject had gone missing three days earlier (12/26/03) after having a birthday dinner in downtown Arlington. He was not seen after leaving the restaurant. We were called concurrently with Sno Cty resources. The subject was considered to have Alzheimer's, with a recent episode of walking away from his residence the week before. Airscent teams worked areas assigned by Sno Cty I/C and the trailing teams worked from the PLS. Dog Team 2 worked for several hours to the south but were not able to complete the trail before returning to base. The subject was not located when our personnel left search base the first day. The subject was located, deceased, the following day in a wooded area within approximately 1 mile of his residence. (82 hrs)